Container



W. H. CQOK Feb; 27,1940. I

con-mum Filed Sept; 20, 19:57

a W8 W- l l i //W/vToR- I I WM- HARRISON cpox 7 ATmRNEyi I Patented Feb. 27, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CONTAINER William Harrison Cook, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Application September 20, 1937, Serial No. 164,644

' 8 Claims.

, This invention relates to containers and more particularlyto an improved container for the transport and storage of perishable commodities such as pbultry. v I

' The present practice of packaging poultry consists in the use of wooden or cardboardboxes, a number of birds being packed in one box which is lined with paper. This lining paper may be permeable or impermeable to water vapor and it mercially impracticable to seal the folds. In 'wooden boxes this liner is the only part of the package that offers any significant resistance to the transfer'of air. or water'vapor. Cardboard boxes may resist the transfer of moisture but the method of sealing is usually inadequate to maintain' the humiditiesdesired in the package.

It has been found that poultry stored in these containers in the frozenstate suffer losses in weightv and quality because of evaporation through the liners, if not waterproofed, or the unsealed folds. When the product is stored in the chilled state adrier, atmosphere is desirable than in thefrozen state, in order to retard micro- 25 biological activity at the surface of the product.

A certain degree of ventilation is therefore desirable for storage above the. freezing point and in existing packages this is haphazard, depending entirely onthe type of liner and condition of 80 the folds.

I It is an object of this invention to provide a container which is readily usable, which is capable of being-sealed or. ventilated repeatedly'to provide the conditions necessary for either frozen or chilled storageyandwliich can be adapted for use in the chilling of commodities by introducing 'a desirable refrigerating material.

-It is another object of this invention to provide' .a container, for perishable commodities, which has improved heat insulating properties combined with lightness of weight and which is waterproofed on both sides to prevent the uptake of moisture from the product or the surroundin atmosphere.

The invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved container showing the threemembers thereof in separated relation,

Figure. 2 is a plan of the blank from which the is merely "folded over the pack, it being com- As shown in the drawing the container proper consists of three members, i being an. inner tray member and 2 and 3 top and bottom box members, formed, for instance, of corrugated cardboard which has been waxed or otherwise made water resistant.

The inner tray member I is formed from a blank, such as is shown in Figure 2, which is out along lines 4 and scored along lines 5 to provideabottom 6, sides 1, ends 8 and securing flaps 9. A number of regularly disposed holes iii are punched in the bottom portion. A hole I! is punched on the central vertical axis preferably above the central horizontal axis in each of the end portions, notches it being cut in the flaps ii to register with such holes in the formed memher.

The top and bottom members 2' and 3 are formed from identical blanks, one of which is shown in Figure 3, which is out along lines it and scored along lines it to provide a bottom or top portion 15, sides l6, ends ll and'securing flaps l8. A central flap i9 is scored centrally in each of the 'end portions l1 and of such dimensions as to cover the end openings l l in the tray when the v package is assembled.

In assembling the package, the commodity,

such as poultry, to be packed is placed in the inner'member I, which is placed in the bottom member 3 and the top member placed in position over the tray member with its edges in abutting relation to those of the bottom member as shown in Figure 4.

The container is then sealed by placing a sealing paper strip 20 which is provided with an adhesive not affected by moisture, around the container covering the abutting edges of the top and bottom members.

Owing to the position and proportions of the flap I9, if ventilation of the packaged goods is desirable, the flaps may be raised, moved or removed to open the holes ll to the exterior of the closed package, only the adjacent portion of the sealing strip requiring tobe broken if the flaps are opened after sealing. If desired, the container may be ventilated or sealed repeatedly.

Where cooling facilities are not available, it is proposed to precool the products in the package and the container has been so constructed that a refrigerant may be incorporated therein. A suitable quantity of a refrigerant, such as dry ice, may be first placed in the bottom member 3 and the inner member I containing the products to be packed then placed therein over the refrigerant, the top member being then placed in position as previously described. The weight of the product in tray-l keeps the latter in good thermal contact with the refrigerant which chills the contents as it evaporates, member I keeping the contents from direct contact with the refrigerant;

At the same time, the holes l0 permit the, gas given off, which has a preservative action, to surround the contents. When a refrigerant such as dry ice is used, the small amount required, distributed uniformly in the bottom box member, does not occupy suificient space to prevent attachment immediately of the sealing strip previously mentioned, to both top and bottom box members if desired. Ordinarily sealing will be delayed until the refrigerant has practically all evaporated. .For shipment or handling the box may be wired or banded, if required, to give additional protection.

7 The sealing strip may be coated withaluminum foil 2l and the entire package may be similarly coated with a covering 22 of aluminum foil. The aluminum foil coating renders the package Weather resistant and, in transshipping, the rate of heating up of the contents in aluminum coated packages is slower particularly in a high ambient temperature.

I claim: 1. A container for food products comprising an inner tray member adapted to contain the food products and top and bottom box members fitting over said inner member with their edges in abutting relation, said inner member having ventilatthe outer openings of said vents, and a sealing strip extending around the container over said abutting edges and an aluminum foil coating over the container and sealing strip. 4

3. A container for food products comprising an inner tray member adapted to contain food products and having holes in its bottom and ends, and

' top and bottom. closure members adapted to receive and enclose said tray member with their edges in abutting relation, said closure members having a centrally located foldable flap.

having adjustable means for closing or opening the holes in the end of said tray member.

4. A container for food products comprising an inner tray member and top and bottom closure members adapted to receive said tray member, the tray being provided with ventilating openings and the closure ,members with adjustable means for regulating the ventilation provided by said open-- ings.

inner tray member adapted to containthe food products and having at least one hole located" 1'0 5. A container for food products comprising ,anf f in the central portion of each end thereof, and Y top and bottom closure members adapted to re-- ceive and enclose said tray member with their edgesin abutting relation, said closure members having adjustable means for closing or opening n said holes.

6..A container for food products comprising an inner tray member adaptedto contain the food f products and top and bottom box members fitting over said inner'member with their edges inabutting relation, said inner member having atleast one hole'located in the central portion of each end thereof, and adjustable flaps on said top and bottom members positioned to cover said holes. 7. A container for food products comprising an inner tray member and top and bottom closure members adapted to receive said tray member,

the ends of said tray being of double thickness and being provided with at least one centrally located ventilating opening, said closurelmenb" bers having adjustable means for regulating the ventilation provided by said openings.

' 8. A container for food products comprising an inner tray member and top and bottom closure members adapted to receive said tray member,

said tray member being formed of a rectangular blank having a bottom portion and foldable side and end walls, said side walls having foldabl'e end flaps adapted to overlie said end walls, each of said end ,walls havinga centrally located hole and each of said end flaps having a notch adapted to register with a respective hole, and each of said closure members being formed of a blank havinga central portion and foldable side and end walls, each of said last mentioned end walls 'WILLIAM nmarsori COOK. 

